Letters to the Editor for April 19, 2017

Many thanks go out to the press operators of The Commercial Appeal (“Final edition” April 17, 2017) for their service to journalism and this community. Before Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat, these men and women were an integral part of the publishing process. Long before the advent of social media, press operators have been able to take news stories, editorial content, photographs, and advertising and turn it out in a tangible and portable form every day. As a former newspaper reporter in the 1980's (in Knoxville) it was not uncommon for me to return to the newspaper’s loading dock late at night to pick up a freshly run paper from a press operator to see a story I had written earlier in the day. Press operators of The Commercial Appeal are the latest victims in the changing landscape of news production as the process solidifies in the electronic platform.
Hang in there Commercial Appeal. Let’s enjoy The Commercial Appeal newspaper, on paper, while we can.Karen M. Campbell, Memphis

Questioning the source of crime in the black community

Apparent experts on the issue termed “black-on-black crime” (4-17-17 CA article, “Official believes it’s time to shelve phrase ‘black-on-black crime’”) propose changing the name while the game remains the same, as they continue to blame external sociological-economic forces for the eternal problem of black crime, rather than confronting the reality of black individuals and group inertia in helping solve their problems. Some realistic problems include the absence of, or poor parenting, from the dysfunction of “parents” who have exercised their right to produce children, yet who do not care for them properly. This “parental” generation seems to have been skipped in many black families. Changes are needed, and the evidence for the raising of these challenged black children by a surrogate, for example by a grandmother, is strong. In many instances, this arrangement has produced the most reliable and durable black citizens, confronting the irresponsibly poor choices of drug use, sexual debauchery, crime, and child neglect by some “parents.” Until this “lost generation” comes to its moral senses and loses its permission to behave irresponsibly from the liberal and leftist theoretical politicians, evaluation of black children at risk should begin early before imprinting by poor role models occurs. Consider if the old saying, “you can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear” might apply here.Charles Hubbert, Memphis

Rental units are leading to unkempt neighborhood

I would like to say "Amen" to Lynda Whalen's article in the Sunday paper (April 2, CA Viewpoint: "The other side of flip it.") My husband and I live in a development of small houses off of Whitten Road. We work hard to keep our yard looking nice and as homeowners enjoy doing so. In recent years more and more homes around us are becoming rentals and along with that we now see way more than our fair share of unkempt, weedy yards. There are many advantages to living in our community, including easy access to Shelby Farms. However, it is becoming more and more disheartening to stay in an area where many people really don't care about their surroundings.Patti Foster, Cordova

Email letters to letters@commercialappeal.com; fax to 901-529-6445; mail Letters to the Editor, The Commercial Appeal, 495 Union Ave., Memphis, TN 38103; or click on the "Submit Letter" link on the Opinion page at commercialappeal.com.